A groundbreaking surgical feat took place in New York City at NYU Langone Health where Arkansas resident, Aaron James, became the world's first recipient of a full eye transplant. This accomplishment was part of a complex partial-face transplant as James had suffered devastating facial injuries at work.
Previously a high-voltage line worker, James lost his memory of the 7,200 volt live wire accident which claimed most of his face and left his life hanging in the balance. According to Dr. Eddie Rodriguez, one of James' doctors, the severity of his injuries was such that surviving was a feat itself. "Forget about replacing the arms, the face. We gotta keep this guy alive," recounted Rodriguez.
Among James' devastating injuries were the loss of his nose, his front teeth, his left eye, and his dominant left hand. He also suffered major damage to his lips, tongue, and left cheek. After several attempts at reconstructive surgeries and an inability to eat, drink or speak normally, James consented to a face transplant, the first of its kind to include an eye.
This unique transplant, the only successful combined transplant case of its kind, came from a single donor - a man in his 30s. This noble donor, in his passing, provided life-changing tissue to James and three others, explains NYU Langone Health.
"He didn't hesitate," Rodriguez said of James' decision for the combined transplant. "He said, 'If I can help out other people and then I can help out other soldiers, it's worth it". A veteran with tours in Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq under his belt, James was primed to understand the profound impact his experience could have on the lives of his fellow soldiers.
The challenge of ensuring a sufficient blood supply to the transplanted eye was taken on by Dr. Vaidehi Dedania, associate professor of ophthalmology and the director of the Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship. This transplant's success has implications on the broader issue of nerve regeneration and immune rejection, integral concerns in the domain of full-eye transplants.
Post-surgery, James spent a few weeks in the hospital recovering and working through rehabilitation. He still experiences difficulty speaking and lack of feeling in his lips but he has celebrated substantial progress, including being able to eat solid food again. His restored appearance has also boosted his confidence greatly.
The question of whether his brain could recognize and process light perceived through the transplanted eye was next examined. Professor Dedania confirmed that James' retina responded to light stimulus tests. "That's the moment where we were saying, 'Wow, so there's blood supply. The cells are still preserved, and he's able to, at least the retina is able to respond to a stimulus such as light," Dedania recalled.
While James' sight in his transplanted eye has not been restored yet, Dedania remains hopeful. As an optimist, Rodriguez echoes the sentiment, recognizing that this ground-breaking procedure has brought them a step closer. "The question is, is it possible? Yes," Dedania confirmed.
